I’m going to admit, up until recently I never really listened to Thrice. It wasn’t until “Hurricane” played as part of one of my Daily Mixes on Spotify. I immediately fell in love with that song, listening to it multiple times each day and I’m still not tired of it. I then moved on to “Black Honey” and the same thing, loved it! Next step, check out the entire album. I know I’m late to the Thrice party, but I’m here now! I LOVE the “To Be Everywhere Is To Be Nowhere” album from start to finish. Been a while since I found an album I love from beginning to end and can’t stop listening to. Looking forward to seeing them live this coming week with my daughter and son-in-law!

The Long Defeat

One of the beauties of music is how each person can take in the lyrics of a song and find their own meaning. This song found me at a place in life where things are going really well. I’m am very fortunate and can honestly say life is good, in all but one aspect of my life — my love life. It seems that every time I seem to take a step forward in that area, I wind up taking two steps back. And yet I keep holding out hope that one day I’ll find that one woman who stands by my side through this mess of a world we live in. That’s where this song hooked me. To me it’s a song of hope and inspiration, that one day things will change if we keep fighting for what we want and believe in. I continue to hold out hope and push for what I am looking for. You should to, and if you are like me, find your song that inspires you to keep pushing. Music is one of the greatest gifts in life if you ask me. Find the song that inspires you!

Thrice – “The Long Defeat” Lyrics

The tyranny of deterioration
It worries me that it’s all just a waste of time
Taking one step forward, two steps back
Still I believe there’s a thread through the thorns
Yeah I believe that somewhere it’s warm
And I believe that it’s ever bright beyond this black

So keep holding on to hope without assurance
Holding on to a memory of light
But will the morning come?
For all I know we’ll never see the sun
But together we’ll fight the long defeat

The suffering that I see all around
It’s enough to keep me crashing down till I
I lie wrecked and reeling from these falls
Still I believe there’s a word in the wire
And I believe there’s a way through the fire
And I believe there’s a joy that blooms beyond these walls

So keep holding on to hope without assurance
Holding on to a memory of light
But will the morning come?
For all I know we’ll never see the sun
But together we’ll fight the long defeat

I first heard Nothing More back in 2009 at Scout Bar (one of THE best venues in the Houston area by the way) supporting their “The Few Not Fleeting” album. Before this I had not heard of them at all. I was very impressed by their show and picked up the album from their merch table after their set. Though the band was from San Antonio, Houston was fortunate that these guys were here frequently and could be considered a local band in my mind. It was soon after seeing these guys that I saw a band called Melovine from Galveston. I quickly became a fan of Melovine and after some time, got involved with managing and promoting them. More on Melovine (and To Whom It May that came out of Melovine) later. I bring up Melovine because through that relationship I was fortunate enough to become acquainted (won’t claim to be a good friends) with the guys in Nothing More. Came across one of the old flyers from back in those days a few months ago.

Saying they are a great group of guys would be an understatement. The guys in Nothing More continue to support and be involved with To Whom It May, in fact, in photo shoots and even videos they can be seen wearing TWIM shirts, that’s pretty damn cool!

Music has always been a huge part of my life going back to middle school. When I think back on my life, there is always a soundtrack to go along with it. And not just what was popular in that year, but what I had made an emotional connection to at that time. That doesn’t necessarily mean sad love song emotions, though there are those. What I mean is there was always a song or album that moved me, stirred something in my soul. It was in late 2010/early 2011 when I went through my divorce that I made that connection with the music of Nothing More. This was a very dark time for me and I filled the emptiness with music, in particular, that of local bands.

The first Nothing More song that I built a connection with, that still gives me goosebumps to this day, was “It Seems“. You see, there were many days/nights I felt just like the lyrics of this song. I felt alone and at times just wanted to die or morph into someone else, I certainly wasn’t happy with the man I had become. It was through music and the people I met as part of the local music scene that I was able to work through where I was at. So here it is, have a listen…

A couple years later when they released the self-titled album “Nothing More” in the fall of 2013 (independent release before the re-release after signing with Eleven Seven Music), I listened to that album day and night, I was addicted to it. I mean, that entire album kicks serious ass! I was still having a rough time in my life. Still hadn’t really recovered from my divorce, which I was told was normal after a 15 year marriage. The song I initially made a deep connection with was “I’ll Be OK“, because again, the lyrics spoke to where I was in my life…

After the passing of more time I started putting myself back together. Had been working very hard with self-reflection and taking ownership for my situation. I was finally feeling like “me” again. And though I had listened and rocked out to the the next song, it wasn’t until I made it to this place that I truly understood it. And when I did, this song was next in the soundtrack to this particular path of my life. The pains and heartaches in our lives make us who we are, it’s an evolution that never ends. I finally felt I was at a place that I could be in a healthy relationship and be good for another person. “Here’s to the Heartache“…

To say I was eager for the next record is an understatement. I pre-ordered the vinyl copy of “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” and waited for what seemed like an eternity. I had an idea of the material that would be on this album. Jonny puts himself into these songs, they all do. And while I don’t claim to know all the details, the personal struggles that led up to this album were certainly bound to come out in the writing. I had listened to the singles that were released prior to the album release, but tried not to listen to them too much, I like to take in the entire album, call me old school. So when the album came in a day early, I was ecstatic, but also fucked because I don’t own a record player. I knew I would also receive a download code for the album, but not until the next day, the official release date, what to do. Luckily, they started the album streaming that night prior to those who pre-ordered the album. So I that entire night listening to the album over and over from start to finish.

I wasn’t immediately drawn to any one song, just really liked the entire album and could listen to each and every song, not having the impulse to hit skip on any. I was eager for that connection, so I kept listening after I was able to download the album the next day and loaded it on my phone. Then it happened, one day I was driving home in my truck and “Fade In / Fade Out” was playing. I don’t know why it was at this time that it happened, but halfway through I was like, “what the fuck?”, I had goosebumps and a lump in my throat. I re-started the song to see what the hell had just happened. It had brought memories of my Dad who past away much too early. It reminded me of my own mortality, which I try to remember each day because tomorrow is not a given. But what got me in the gut was that this made me think of my girls, how much I love them and want the best for them. I could see me writing something like this for them, if I could write songs anyway. So there it was, my first deep connection on this album…

Two other songs I have found myself really connecting with is “Tunnels” and “Don’t Stop“. I’ve let things in my life hold me down, my self-limiting beliefs due to my arm situation has been something I have continued working on and likely always will. Shit isn’t always going to come up roses in life and I’m not going to live forever, my number could be up tomorrow. So fuck it, I’m done being held down. I will deal with whatever the issue is and move forward. I’ve recently decided to take more risks and put myself out there, and dammit, it feels good! I feel alive again! And I’m not going to stop!

So why am I writing all this out for anyone to see. First of all, I just wanted to share what this band and their music has meant to me, what they helped me through. I also want others who may be going through something similar in their lives to see that in time, hey, this guy made it through, I can too. It took a number of years, and it wasn’t easy by any means. But dammit, it can be done, be strong and persevere… “Do You Really Want It?”

I am truly thankful for the guys in Nothing More, their music helped me along my path in life and helped me to a better place where I am happy with my life. Thank you Jonny, Mark, Daniel, Paul, and Ben.

Visit Nothing More’s website for more information on the band, tour dates, and merch. And if you have never seen these guys live, do it, one helluva show!